It’s the most wonderful time of the year… So, thankfully, Christmas fun doesn’t necessarily have to be eclipsed by moving house. Although Spring is an exceptionally popular time of year to buy or sell property, most people will try and stay clear of the actual holiday period. However, if you have ever been part of the process, you will know that sometimes not everything can go quite as expected. So if you are looking at a last minute move right before Christmas, don’t sweat!

Get Organised

This golden rule for moving stays pretty much the same, whatever the time of year. Planning in advance is a great idea, or at least making sure you have covered all your bases. Around Christmas, being ahead of the game is your best friend. A lot of people, including agents, removalists and utilities companies may take leave around this time of year, so be sure to check out the services that will be available when you need them.

Get Some Help

That also means alerting utilities companies in advance as well. The long summer days are definitely a plus, but you’ll still need gas and electricity in your new property. It’s also a good idea to get some help at this time of year, even if you usually do it all yourself. Bringing in removalists saves you a lot of precious time.

Stay Cool

Those long hours of daylight are really helpful when moving, giving you more time to get everything into your new property. However, you do need to consider hot summer temperatures. Unfortunately that can make all that physical work a bit unpleasant. So maybe consider leaving any fans or ventilation units unpacked until the last minute. And definitely make sure that you have plenty of water to hand for your family and any services helping you. Double-check that the mains water has not be switched off at your new home before you arrive.

Take Your Time

Time is a commodity that usually feels in short supply when moving house, but if possible, try and allow yourself a little more than usual at this time of year. The city is usually busier around Christmas and it may well take vehicles longer than normal to get around. Your removalists will take this into account when getting to you, but bear in mind that trips between properties could take longer than expected.

It doesn’t have to be all worry though; Christmas gives you the perfect opportunity to make more of your move. We’ll leave it up to you whether you want to soundtrack the day with Christmas songs (although this is at your own risk; the rest of your family may not appreciate your rendition of All I Want For Christmas).

However, it is the perfect excuse to make your arrival a little more festive – perhaps with some Christmassy treats to celebrate? If you have children, why not decorate the front door for when they arrive? You could even throw a Christmas housewarming party and ask all your friends to help you decorate. After all, you’ve worked pretty hard already, and you should take all the help you can get.